HC Deb 13 February 2001 vol 363 cc85-6W
Mr. Gill

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in other EU countries regarding seats on the United Nations Security Council. [150115]

Mr. Battle

The Secretary of State has regular exchanges with a number of EU partners on issues relating to membership of the United Nations Security Council.

We continue to press for early enlargement of the Council, including new non-permanent and new permanent seats. We support the creation of five new permanent seats: for Germany and Japan plus three developing states.

The question of an EU permanent seat is not on the agenda. Under the UN Charter, only states can be members of the United Nations or its Security Council.

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